The
fish however, are disappearing, because we no longer
respect the basic rules for hunting and the exploitation
of nature. Fishing as a life form and a trade has always
been governed by the biology and behaviour of the fish.
Fish and nature have always decided the balance and rhythm
of any fishery.

This
balance has been thrown over board by the
industrialization of modern fishing, which is taking place
everywhere and at all times, no matter the weather
conditions or the characteristic of the fishing ground.
The fish are pursued even amongst the rocks and wrecks,
which only recently gave them shelter and protection. The
consequences have been dramatic: Before the advent of
industrialized fishing, everyone was convinced that it was
impossible to empty the sea. Today, industrialized fishing
has shown that this is not so.

For
10 years, the EU has worked on developing a thorough
fishery reform, which was supposed to put an end to the
destruction, which over-fishing has caused in our common
seas, and in 2002 the reform should be completed.

Now
however, it has become alarmingly clear that those who
started the task 10 years ago, and those who followed,
have not been able to solve it. They have not understood
the reality, which governs the sea, and the fishery has
therefore merely been allowed to continue on the same
destructive course, which has led to the current
situation.

The
authorities and the major fishery associations haven’t
been able to take the responsibility for the fishery, and
therefore we have to encourage the European population to
understand and defend good fishing practices. We encourage
everyone to use their political influence to further and
develop an ecologically sustainable fishery – a fishery
which is real, in the sense that it can sustain itself as a balanced hunt
and harvest in accordance with the natural conditions,
without damaging the stocks or the marine environment.
This fishery (still) exists
and is ready to take its position as the real link between
humans and sea. It is economically reasonable, it
maintains the virility and cultural importance of the
coastal community, and it provides fish of high quality.
At the same time therefore, we should encourage the
population to accept that the necessary funds be earmarked
for helping fishermen to change to fishing methods which
live up to the aims of this declaration.

Since
the industrialization of fishing has led to the
development of destructive forms of fishing, and since the
EU has committed itself to furthering the ecologically
sustainable fishery, we declare the following:

-
That the hunting and catching of fish is a historic right
– a natural human right.

-
That all fishing should be conducted on an ecologically
sustainable basis.

-
That fishery administration should be carried out in a
manner such as to secure the future generations of wild
fish, and to create a viable and diversified fishing
industry.

Nothing
in this declaration should be interpreted as entitling any
state, group or individual to carry out an enterprise or
act, which violates the fundamental right of humans to
conduct a fishery and to exploit the marine resource.